She went to Rufaro’s home which was not far from her place. She could see that her friend had returned from work by the open windows. She entered the gate and knocked on the door.

“Who is it?” A voice called out.

“It’s me,” she answered.

The door was opened, she began to cry. Rufaro pulled her slowly and hugged her. She was confused as to what was the problem. She kept crying.

“What is it? My friend,” she asked calmly.

“I finally see who he is,” she answered sobbing. “Henry said I am a Blesser,” she continued.

“What do you mean?” she asked concerned.

“He told his friend I am a Blesser and he is a player,” she answered and cried loudly.

Rufaro hugged her and made her sit down. She went to get a glass of water and gave it to Charlotte. She drank a sip then she cried loudly.

“You should dump him,” Rufaro said quietly.

“How could he do this to me?” She cried blowing her nose.

“You are not in a good space,” Rufaro held her shoulder.

Rufaro called her boyfriend so he could come. She and her boyfriend, Max went to Charlotte’s place and took all that she needed so she could have company with them. When they returned, they found Charlotte sleeping on the couch.

“Baby, carry her to the bedroom,” she said quietly.

He grabbed her back and legs and carried her to the bed. Rufaro opened the door for him.

“I thought, you wanted me tonight,” he said and leaned her on the wall.

They kissed for a short time.

“I have to go,” he said and kissed her cheek.

Rufaro locked the door after Max left. She made a cup of tea and watched television. When it was10 p.m. she went to sleep on the other side of bed.

Charlotte was breathing hoarsely and she swore she was crying in her sleep. She texted Farai.

Girly its late, Charlotte is not good.

What’s wrong? She can’t get over her bf?

No, it’s what Henry was doing to her.

Talk tomorrow. Good night.

Night.

The next day was quick to come. Rufaro woke up and found Charlotte not sleeping well. She was not even breathing. She panicked and shook her and she was unconscious.

“Charlotte, come on,” she shouted.

Her pulse was dead. She called an ambulance. It came a few minutes later.

“Please save her,” she shouted to the paramedics. They performed a CPR.

“She will be fine,” a white woman said.

They took her to a hospital. Rufaro stayed behind so that she could tell Charlotte’s boss and also her boss that she wasn’t coming in. When she followed them to the hospital, she called Charlotte’s parents. They were in another town and couldn’t come, but the next day they said they would be there. Farai went to the hotel thinking the boss didn’t know.

“She is not coming in. She went to hospital,” she spoke when Henry walked in.

“What is wrong?” he asked.

“Stress related,” she answered.

“Charlotte, my best chef. I can’t lose her,” he said and looked at Henry.

“How will you lose her?” Henry asked .

“She has been admitted,” Frank answered.

Henry was puzzled and rushed out quickly.

Charlotte lay on the bed in hospital with so many machines connected to her. She was unconscious. Her body lay as a dead body. Henry stood staring at her. He knew it was his fault why she was like this.

“Baby, I am sorry, please be OK,” he said softly holding her hand.

Watching her, made Henry feel guilty. Her friends knew he was the stress affecting her. He laid his head on the bed. Charlotte was not moving or breathing on her own. There was an oxygen mask on her mouth. The only noise inside was the machine which beeped softly.

Farai and Rufaro entered. Farai quickly walked to Henry and hit his shoulder. He hadn’t seen them come in.

“What are you doing here?” she asked concerned.

“I am here for her. I care, what do you think? She is special to me,” he spoke seriously.

Rufaro shook her head and went the other side. Farai disliked Henry, she stared at him angrily.

“This is your fault,” she said looking at him.

Henry stood up and left. He got irritated and hated to be judged.

***

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